Police issue licence to 2 dance bars in Mumbai

Mumbai Police on Thursday issued licence to two dance bars as the per the new guidelines laid down by the Maharashtra government

Mumbai Police on Thursday issued licence to two dance bars as the per the new guidelines laid down by the Maharashtra government.

Licences were issued to Raj Naik of Sai Prasad Bar at Andheri and Bharat Thakur of Indiyana Bar at Tardeo, a senior official told PTI.

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to grant licences to eight dance bars within two days and asked the owners to give an undertaking that they would not engage employees with criminal antecedents near the dance area.

Of the eight dance bars, two owners were out of town. The remaining six dance bar owners had to reach Mumbai Police Headquarters, pay fee of Rs 2 lakh and obtain licenses, police said.

Of these, four bar owners could not reach the headquarters on time and they will be given licences tomorrow, the officer said.

According to the new conditions, dance bars must be at least a kilometre from any education or religious institution, their timings restricted between 6 PM and 11.30 PM, and liquor not to be served in the performance area.